Roof structure.



PATENTBD FEB. 12; 1907.

No. 844 212r H. THADBN.

ROOF STRUCTURE. APPLICATION rmm JULY 11 1906.

vide yielding means secured to the ridge of PATENT @FFIQE.

HERMAN THADEN, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

ROOF STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1907.

Application filed July 17,1906. Serial No. 326,579.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN TI-IADEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Roof Structures; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to roof structures, and has for an object toprovide improved means for supporting the ridge, rafters, and

urlin.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a roof structure asupporting means adapted to tie together the wall-plate and support theridge and to equalize the tension upon opposite sides of the roofstructure.

A further object of the invention is to prothe roof structure and withtruss-rods extending therefrom to the wallplates in such manner that thetension upon the truss-rods is equalized.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a roof structure ablock arranged to conform to the inclination of the roof and providedwith yielding means for attaching to the roof.

WVith these and other objects in view the invention comprises certainother novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, aswill be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a skeleton roofembodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in verticalsection and partly in side elevation, of the means for attaching to theridge of the roof structure.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

The invention forming the subject-matter of this application is adaptedfor use in connection with a roof of any ordinary building structure,but is particularly and especially adapted for use in connection withgreenhouse structures, wherein the usual rafters are replaced bysash-bars of less rigidity than the usual rafters employed.

A building for use in association with the present invention is shownconventionally in Fig. 1 wherein the wall-plates are represented 1 at 10and the ridge at 11, with rafters or sashbars 12 extending between theridge and plates. To the ridge is secured one or more blocks 13, thenumber depending upon the length of the building, said block beingformed substantially as a triangle with opposite sides conformingapproximately to the inclination of the roof. 'lhe block 13 is providedwith yielding metallic straps 1 1, rigidly secured alongoppositely-inclined surfaces, and with upturned ears 15, adapted to besecured upon the ridge 11 in any approved manner, as by the bolt 16. Theblock 13 is provided with openings extending through the said block in avertical plane and disposed with their axes substantially perpendicularto the edge of the block provided with metallic strap, the said strapbeing provided with a registering opening, through which extends theends, as 17, of truss-rods 18. The truss-rods 18 extend inreversely-inclined position to and through the wall-plates 10, asindicated at 19, and are secured thereupon in any approved manner, as bythe use of a nut or head, as shown. Intermediate their length thetruss-rods 18 are provided with turnbuckles 20, by means of whichtension is applied to the truss-rod 18. The distance of the truss-rod 18from the rafters 12 near the ridge is greater than the distance near thewall-plate, the said rafters and truss-rods converging toward the plate,so that the purlin 21 is supported upon the truss-rod 18 intermediateits length and under the rafter 12 and prevented from moving toward theplate by reason of the convergency of the trussrods and rafters.

-It will be understood that the metallic straps 14 are semiflexible andpermit a yielding of the block 13 under tension of the trussrods19, sothat the tension upon opposite sides of the building is always equalizedand that the truss-rods 18 engaging below the ridge 11 and convergingtoward the wallplate relative to the rafters the rafters are held inengagement with the ridge and the ridge supported by means of exertingtension upon the truss-rods 18 by the turnbuckles 20, and should thetension exerted be unequal such tension is equalized by the yielding ofthe block 13.

With the roof structure supported in the manner shown in Fig. 1 thesupporting means is disposed substantially within the angle of the roof,so that no ties extend across the structure from wall-plate towall-plate. Furthermore, the tying of the wall-plates to the structureadjacent the ridge holds the structure rigid with the rafters in rigidengage ment with the plates and with the ridge and prevents any saggingof the ridge under weight of accumulated snow or other externalpressure. Again, should any sagging oc cur by reason of shrinking orcontraction of the several associated parts such sagging may becompensated for by tightening the turnbuckles to exert additionalstrains upon the truss-rod 13, thereupon drawing together thewall-plates 10 and raising the ridge 11.

In structures employing long rafters more than one purlin may beadvantageously employed, and where one or more purlins are employed eachand all may rest and be supported upon the truss-rods 18 and areprevented from sliding downwardly by reason of the convergency of thetruss-rods relative to the rafters.

What I claim is 1. In a roof structure, a rid e, wall-plates spaced onopposite sides of t e ridge, and means connecting the wall-plates andridge arranged to equalize the strain.

2. In a roof structure, a ridge, wall-plates spaced upon opposite sidesof the ridge, means tying the plates and ridge together, means forexerting tension upon the tying means, and means whereby the tensionupon opposite sides is equalized,

3. In a roof structure, a rid e, Wall-plates upon opposite sides of theri ge, truss-rods running from the wall-plates in reverselyinclinedupward directions, and means connecting and arranged to equalize thestrain upon the truss-rods.

4. In a roof structure, a ridge, wall-plates spaced upon op osite sidesof the ridge, rafters extending rom the plate to the ridge, truss-rodsrunning from the wall-plates in reversely-inclined u ward directions,and

approaching nearer t e rafters at their lower ends, and means connectingand arranged to equalize the strain upon the truss-rods.

5. In a roof structure, a ridge, wall-plates spaced upon opposite sidesof the ridge, trussrods running from the wall-plates inreverselyinclined upward directions, and means connectin the truss-rodsand ridge and arranged to equalize the strain upon the trussrods.

6. In a roof structure, a ridge, wall-plates spaced upon'opposite sidesof the ridge, rafters extending from the plates to the ridge, truss-rodsrunning. from the wall-plates in reversely-inclined u ward directionsand approaching nearer t e rafters at their lower ends, means connectingand arranged to equalize the strain upon the truss-rods, and purlinscarried upon the truss-rods and-positioned to support the raftersintermediate their ends.

7. In a roof structure, a ridge, wal1-plates spaced upon opposite sidesof the ridge, rafters extending from the plates to the ridge, truss-rodsrunning from the wall-plates in reversely-inclined upward directions,and approaching nearer the rafters at their lower ends, means connectingthe truss-rods and ridge and arranged to equalize the strain upon thetruss-rods, and purlins carried upon the truss-rods and positioned tosupport the rafters intermediate their ends.

8. In a roof structure, a ridge, wall-plates spaced upon opposite sidesof the ridge,

truss-rods running from the wall-plates in reversely-inclined upwarddirections, and a block yieldingly secured to the ridge and arranged toequalize the strain upon the truss rod.

9. In a roof structure, a ridge, wall-plates spaced upon opposite sidesof the ridge, rafters extending from the plates to the ridge, trussro,dsrunning from the wall-plates in reversely-inclined directions andapproaching nearer the rafters at their lower ends, and a blockyieldingly secured to the ridge, and arranged to equalize thestrain uponthe truss-rods.

10. In a roof structure, a ridge, wall-plates spaced upon opposite sidesof the ridge, rafters extending from the plates to the ridge, truss-rodsrunning from the wall-plates in reversely-inclined upward directions,and approaching nearer the rafters at their lower ends, a blockyieldingly secured to the ridge, and connecting the truss-rods and ridgeand arranged to equalize the strain upon the truss-rods,v and purlinscarried upon the trusserods and positioned to support the raftersintermediate their ends.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HERMAN THADEN.

